U.S. patent number 4,222,376 [Application Number 06/072,898] was granted by the patent office on 1980-09-16 for exercise machine.
Invention is credited to Louis Praprotnik.
United States Patent |
4,222,376 |
Praprotnik |
September 16, 1980 |
Exercise machine
Abstract
An exercise machine for restoring lost movement to joints and
muscles includes a base to which a chair upon which the user is
seated may be mounted, to prevent the machine from tipping, and
includes a vertical standard mounting a rotatable handlebar
assembly and a crank assembly. The handlebar assembly includes a
sloping stem rotatable on the vertical standard and handlebars
rotatable on the upper sloping end of the stem, whereby propelling
the handlebars about for a circular path of the stem upper end
provides a wide range of movement to the arms and upper torso. The
crank assembly is made up of upper and lower bicycle-type crank
mechanisms, for the arms and legs, coupled by a V-belt so that
strong, readily moved legs may be utilized to restore movement to
arms whose range of movement is impaired, or vice-versa.
Inventors: |
Praprotnik; Louis (St. Louis,
MO) |
Family
ID: |
22110419 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/072,898 |
Filed: |
September 6, 1979 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/24; 482/60;
482/62; 601/32; 601/33; 601/35 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
1/0214 (20130101); A63B 22/001 (20130101); A63B
22/0605 (20130101); A63B 22/0694 (20130101); A63B
22/0005 (20151001); A61H 2201/1269 (20130101); A63B
22/0023 (20130101); A63B 2023/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
1/02 (20060101); A61H 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/25R,24R,24.1
;272/73 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Trapp; Lawrence W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An exercise machine by which persons may exercise while seated
on seating means having a floor support portion, comprising
A. a substantially vertical standard,
B. a handlebar mechanism including
a stem member mounted rotatably at the upper end of the vertical
standard on a vertical axis and sloping upward therefrom, ending in
a sloping upper end, and
outward extending handlebars, mounted rotatably along a sloping
axis at the upper end of the stem member,
C. a crank mechanism including
a support arm mounted on the vertical standard at a point below its
upper end and sloping upward therefrom,
means to adjust the angle of the arm relative to the standard,
a lower crank assembly mounted adjacent to the lower end of the
arm, the lower crank assembly having foot pedals,
an upper crank assembly mounted adjacent to the upper end of the
arm, the upper crank assembly having handgrips, and
means operable between the lower and upper crank assemblies to
cause rotation of one crank assembly on rotation of the other,
the exercise machine further comprising
D. a base assembly including
a base having means to support the vertical standard either in a
first angular position, in which the crank assembly is to be
utilized, or in a second angular position 180.degree. removed
therefrom, and
socket means on the base remote from the support means and
positioned genrally in the direction of said first angular
position, to accept the floor-support portion of the seating
means,
whereby the weight of a person seated on the seating means prevents
the exercise machine from tipping, and such person may utilize the
crank assembly for exercising the arms or legs or both, or
alternately utilize the handlebar mechanism without interference
from the crank mechanism.
2. An exercise machine comprising
a base,
a substantially vertical standard extending upward from the
base,
a stem member mounted rotatably at the upper end of the vertical
standard on a vertical axis and sloping upward therefrom, ending in
a sloping upper end, and further comprising
handlebars mounted rotatably to the sloping upper end of the stem
member, the handlebars having outer handgrip portions,
whereby the machine may be utilized by grasping the handlebar
handgrip portions and so propelling the handlebars about that the
upper end of the stem member traces a circular path.
3. The exercise machine defined in claim 2, and further
comprising
a bicycle-type crank assembly supported by the vertical standard
below the level of the stem member, the crank assembly having foot
pedals,
whereby to permit simultaneous exercise of both the legs and
arms.
4. The exercise machine defined in claim 3, and further
comprising
a support arm extending outward and upward from the vertical
standard,
a second bicycle-type crank assembly supported adjacent to the
outer end of the arm member, the second crank assembly having
handgrips, and comprising
means, operable between the lower and upper crank assemblies, to
cause rotation of one crank assembly on rotation of the other,
whereby a strong, readily moved limb may be utilized to impart
movement to other weaker limbs whose range of movement is
impaired.
5. The exercise machine defined in claim 2, for use with
leg-supported seating furniture upon which a person may be seated
during exercise, and further comprising
a base for the vertical standard,
socket means, on the base, to accept and secure the lower ends of
the legs of the seating furniture,
whereby the weight of the person prevents the exercise machine from
tipping.
6. An exercise machine comprising
a substantially vertical standard,
a stem member mounted rotatably at the upper end of the vertical
standard and sloping upward and outward therefrom,
handlebars mounted rotatably to the upper end of the stem member,
the handlebars having outer handgrip portions,
a support arm extending slopingly upward from the vertical
standard,
a first bicycle-type crank assembly, supported by the standard, the
first crank assembly having foot pedals,
a second bicycle-type crank assembly mounted on the support arm
adjacent to its outer end, above the level of the first crank
assembly, the second crank assembly having handgrips,
means, operable between the lower and upper crank assemblies, to
cause rotation of one crank assembly on rotation of the other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to exercise machines, and
specifically to exercise machines used in the treatment of
arthritis and other medical conditions of limitation of movement of
the arms, shoulder, legs and spine.
For many such conditions, a particularly helpful treatment is
simple exercise of the affected joints and muscles. For this
purpose, various types of exercise machines have been provided,
including bicycle-type machines for the legs and machines provided
with levers or light-weight pulls for the arms. Frequently these
conditions do not affect all of the limbs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an
exercise machine for the treatment of arthritic persons by which
both the arms and legs may be exercised simultaneously, or by which
one limb may be utilized to impart movement to others. Another
purpose is to provide an exercise machine which will provide for
spinal movements. Still another purpose is to provide an exercise
machine for which the user may sit on an ordinary chair, or lie in
bed.
Briefly summarized, the present invention comprises a base having
sockets which will accept and secure the lower ends of the legs of
a chair. A vertical standard extends upward from the base to an
upper end which supports for rotation a slanting stem member, which
slopes upward and outward to an upper end which supports for
rotation bicycle-type handlebars. By propelling the handlebars
about, the upper end of the stem member may be made to trace a
circular path, stretching the spine and bending both arms over a
wide range of movement.
A first bicyle-type crank assembly, provided with foot pedals, is
supported, below the stem member by the vertical standard, at the
lower end of an arm member which extends upward and outward from
the standard. A second bicycle-type crank assembly is mounted at
the outer end of the arm and is provided with handgrips. The two
crank assemblies are operably coupled by a pair of pulleys and a
belt, whereby rotation of one crank rotates the other, so that a
stronger, readily moved limb may be utilized to impart movement to
other weaker limbs whose range of movement is impaired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a isometric drawing of a preferred embodiment of the
present exercise machine shown with its handlebar mechanism
exploded and with a chair, utilized with the exercise machine,
shown in phantom lines.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the exercise machine of FIG. 1,
showing the machine rotated 180.degree. on its base with a chair in
phantom lines fixed to the base, and in phantom lines showing the
handlebar mechanism rotated one-half revolution from its position
shown in solid lines.
FIG. 3 is a schematic line drawing taken from the position of one
seated on the chair as in FIG. 2 and showing the handlebar
mechanism rotated one-fourth revolution to the right.
FIG. 4 is a line drawing, similar to FIG. 3, showing the handlebar
mechanism rotated one-fourth revolution to the left.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present
exercise machine is comprised of a base assembly, generally
designated 10, to which a chair a, or other leg-supported seating
furniture, may be mounted, a vertical standard hereafter referred
to which supports a lower bicycle-type crank assembly, generally
designated 30, and an upper rotatable handlebar mechanism,
generally designated 50. A support arm 60 mounts an upper
bicycle-type crank assembly, generally designated 70, coupled by
V-belt drive to the lower crank assembly 30.
Described in detail, the base assembly 10 is U-shaped and includes
a pair of parallel, horizontally-extending legs 11, of square
tubing, and an upright support member 12 of similar tubing, mounted
at the midpoint between the legs 11, with a smaller cross-section
square post 13 extending upward from the upper end of the member
12. Each leg 11 mounts a slidable socket assembly 15 comprised of a
square tube segment 16 slidable upon the legs 11 and fixed in
position by a setscrew 17, and further comprised of an
upward-extending socket portion 18 on the tube 16 into which the
lower ends of the legs of the chair a are clamped by a setscrew
19.
The post 13 of the base assembly upright support member 12 accepts
the lower end of a vertical standard lower section 25, which is of
square tubing.
The lower bicycle-type crank assembly 30 is mounted at the upper
end of the vertical standard lower section 25 by a bearing support
31. A shaft 32 extends through the bearing support 31, having a
V-belt pulley 33 and bicycle-type crank arm 34 mounted on one end
outward of the support 31 and a similar crank arm 34 on its
opposite end outward of the support 31. Both crank arms 34 are
equipped with bicycle-type foot pedals 35.
A vertical standard upper section 40, made up of a cylindrical
tube, continues upward from the lower crank bearing support 31. A
reduced-diameter cylindrical post 41 extends upward from the upper
end of the vertical standard upper section 40.
The rotatable handlebar mechanism 50 includes a stem member 51
mounted by its lower end 52 onto the vertical standard cylindrical
post 41 so as to be rotatable about its vertical axis. The stem
member 51 has a sloping upper portion 53, sloping upward and
outward from above the upper end of the post 41, inclined from
vertical at an angle which in the embodiment shown is approximately
40.degree.. Bicycle-type handlebars 55 are rotatably mounted to the
sloping upper end 53 of the stem member 51 by a downward-extending
center-mounted cylindrical post 56 fitted for pivoting in the stem
member sloping upper portion 53. The outward-extending ends of the
handlebars 55 are preferably inclined at a small angle from the
post 56 as shown in FIG. 1, and have handgrips 57.
An upper crank mechanism support arm 60 slopes upward from the
lower crank assembly 30, having a clevis 61 at its lower end
pivotally engaged to the lower crank assembly support bearing 31
about the upper and lower sections of the vertical standard 25, 40.
A support strut 62 is pinned to the support arm and extends to the
vertical standard upper section 40 upward of the lower crank
assembly 30. The support strut 62 has a lengthwise-extending
upwardly-notched slot 63 through which the strut is adjustably
secured to the upper section vertical standard 40 by a wingbolt 64
secured in one of its notches.
The upper bicycle-type crank assembly 70 is mounted at the upper
end of the support arm 60 by a support bearing 71, which supports a
horizontal shaft 72 mounting a V-belt pulley 73, aligned with the
pulley 33 of the lower crank assembly 30, and a pair of crank arms
74 with projecting handgrips 75. The crank arms 74, or
alternatively the handgrips 75, may be removable during use of the
handlebar mechanism 50.
A V-belt 80 couples the V-belt pulley 73 of the upper crank 70 to
the V-belt pulley 33 of the lower crank assembly 30, so that
rotation of either crank assembly drives the other. Where such
operation is not desired, the V-belt 80 may be removed.
In the above-described preferred embodiment, the exercise machine
may be utilized from either side, as contrasted by FIGS. 1 and 2.
This is made possible by the square conformation of the lower
section vertical standard 25 which receives the smaller square post
13 of the base upright support member 12. The vertical standard
lower section 25 may be so mounted onto the post 13 on the base
assembly 10 with the support arm 60 extending either in the
direction of the horizontally-extending legs 11, as when the upper
crank assembly 70 is to be utilized as shown in FIG. 1, or in the
opposite direction when the handlebar mechanism 50 is to be
utilized, as shown in FIG 2.
In use of the rotatable handlebar mechanism 50, as shown in FIG. 2,
the vertical standard lower section 25 is mounted onto the base
assembly post 13 with the support arm 60 rotated 180.degree. from
the direction of extension of the base assembly legs 11. The lower
end of the two front legs of a chair a are clamped by the setscrews
19 into the socket portions of the slidable socket assemblies 15;
the chair is then slided along the legs 11 until at the proper
spacing from the vertical standard and the setscrews 17 on the
socket assembly tube segments 16 are tightened. Alternatively, the
legs 11 may be slid between the mattress and springs of a bed for
use of the exercise machine while lying in bed; this use may
require an extension between the base assembly post 13 and vertical
standard lower section 25. Where the user desires to exercise while
seated in an overstuffed armchair, the legs 11 may be slid under
the lower end of the chair, which is generally spaced closely to
the floor.
For the positions of the components shown in FIG. 2, the rotatable
handlebar mechanism 50 provides a novel exercise motion for the
arms and upper torso. This is made possible by the double-rotatable
construction of the handlebar mechanism 50; the handlebars 55
rotate about the slanting axis of the stem member 51, while the
lower end 52 of the stem member 51 rotates on the vertical axis of
the upper section vertical standard 40. The user grasps the
handgrips 57, beginning at the position of the handlebar mechanism
50 shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, at which the stem member 51
slopes toward the user and the handgrips 57 extend generally
downward. By pushing the handlebars 55 to the right but holding
them so that they continuously face the user, the stem member 51 is
rotated on the vertical standard 40 as the handlebars 55 rotate on
the stem member 51; after one-fourth turn, the handlebar mechanism
50 is substantially inclined to the right, as shown in FIG. 3. On
continued rotation, after one-half revolution the handlebar
mechanism 50 is in the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2,
with the stem member 51 sloping away from the user and the
handgrips 57 extending generally toward the user. Further continued
rotation to the user's left inclines the handlebar mechanism 50 to
the left, as at the three-quarter revolution position shown in FIG.
4. Continued rotation of the mechanism returns it to the beginning
position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2.
By propelling the handlebar mechanism 50 in the described path,
with the upper end of the sloping stem portion 53 tracing a
circular path, the joints and muscles of the back and arms are
exercised. Little resistance to motion is provided, the purpose of
the exercise being simply to direct movement of the body over a
wide range, to restore motion to the arms and upper torso which may
have been impaired due to arthritis or other disease. The legs may
be exercised simultaneously by use of the lower crank assembly
30.
For the alternative use of the exercise machine of the preferred
embodiment, the vertical standard lower section 25 is instead
slided onto the base assembly 10 with the support arm 60 extending
toward the legs 11, rotated 180.degree. from the position for the
use described above. The chair a is then clamped onto the socket
assemblies 15, which are adjusted for the proper spacing between
the chair and the lower crank assembly 30. The inclination angle of
the support arm 60 may be adjusted by loosening the wingbolt 64 and
sliding the strut 62 to the proper notched position in the
lengthwise slot 63, and then retightening the wingbolt 64, to
position the upper crank assembly 70 at the desired position.
Again, where it is desired to exercise while lying in bed, the legs
11 may instead be slided between the bed spring and mattress.
In this alternative use, the user may be seated on the chair a and
utilize his feet on the pedals 35 of the lower crank assembly 30
for exercise of the legs and utilize his hands on the handgrips 75
of the upper crank assembly 70 for exercise of the arms and
shoulders, preferably where the V-belt 80 has been removed for
independent rotation of the upper and lower crank assemblies. When
certain limbs have impaired movement due to arthritis or other
disease for which exercise may be prescribed, one or more healthy
limbs may be utilized to impart movement to those limbs with a
limited range of movement, with the V-belt 80 in place. For
example, where a person's arms are affected by arthritis, but his
legs are substantially unimpaired, he may grasp the handgrips 57
while pedaling the lower crank assembly 30, causing the arms to be
directed through a substantial range of movement. Such exercise may
render movable joints stricken by arthritis and strengthen muscles
weakened by other disease.
Modifications of the above-described preferred embodiment of the
exercise machine will be obvious to persons skilled in the art. For
example, any means to adjust the angle of the support arm relative
to the vertical standard may be utilized, as well as any means
operable between the lower and upper crank assemblies to cause
rotation of one crank assembly on rotation of the other, such as a
chain and sprocket arrangement. The base assembly may have any
means to support the vertical standard either in a first angular
position in which the crank assembly is to be utilized, or in a
second angular position 180.degree. removed therefrom, where the
handlebar mechanism is to be utilized. The base may be modified for
use with any type seating means having a floor support portion
accepted by socket means on the base assembly; or for insertion
between the spring and mattress of a bed on which the user is
seated or lying. From these examples, other modifications will
suggest themselves.
* * * * *